Dawson College’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education hosted Entrepreneurship Week (Eweek) coinciding with Global Entrepreneurship Week, November 12 to 15, 2012. This week was all about creativity, innovation, resources and networking…the early stages of starting a new enterprise whether a social project or in business. Students, alumni and the Dawson community got inspired by hearing people who’ve been through it all speak about their experiences.

It is estimated over 15 million youngsters participated worldwide in tens of thousands of events and competition for Global Entrepreneurship Week. In Montreal, Dawson College’s EWeek provided a diverse and strong line-up of speakers, networking events, contests and activities for Montrealers and Dawson College students alike. Many young students had their first glimpse of a possible alternative future for themselves, others had connections with aspiring entrepreneurs, and many heard inspiring stories of successful photographers, illustrators, designers, music producers and programmers who launched their own businesses.

EWeek, for all its big impact, was once like every business, just an idea. EWeek was itself a startup! Like every business, it passed many market tests, had setbacks and successes, grew and became the de facto entrepreneurship week gathering all Montrealers. Next year, what was once just an idea, will be an even bigger success; small and large companies will join in to spread the message that Montreal needs to actively support the creative entrepreneurial economy.

Kyle MacDonald’s red paperclip story inspired Dylan, a Dawson student who managed to trade a paper clip for a nail-gun, after only 5 exchanges. A panel of judges, comprised of angel investors, Beyond the Rack founder Yona Shtern, CJAD host Josh Miller, Caroline Pelletier of Anges Québec and Dawson College and Concordia University business professors, awarded the winning pitch of the Dawson’s Den competition to Laura Bustamante. Second and third place winners were awarded prizes by Goggle and YES Montreal respectively. For young entrepreneurs who are still aspiring to launch their own business, the Speed Dating and Montreal NewTech events were the perfect setting to help connect successful executives, entrepreneurs, students and mentors.

Tim Miller and Lucy Huiting Zhou, two MBA students from the John Molson School of Business, have worked tirelessly on the organization of EWeek running at Dawson this week.

The Concordia business students are completing an MBA Community Service Initiative (CSI) project that includes the event as part of their internship.The culminating moment of the week will be Dawson’s Den. Modeled on CBC’s Dragon’s Den, this event will give aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a panel of experts from various industries.